A hectic 2025 and some much-needed downtime later, South African pace ace Marizanne Kapp is back at the nets, preparing for another season of Women’s Premier League (WPL) action for the Delhi Capitals. This time, though, she will turn to young Jemimah Rodrigues for tactical support, with the Indian batting mainstay elevated to captaincy.

“Yeah, look, I’m not going to lie. Losing Meg as a captain is obviously a big thing. She’s a very successful captain, not only for DC, but in world cricket in general,” Kapp told reporters in an interaction on Tuesday.

“But in saying that, I have said this a few years ago. When I was asked who India’s next captain should be, I actually said Jemimah. I feel she’s a player who can bring a team together. Her personality, how caring she is, she’s always been a leader.”

This is a massive show of support from the 36-year-old allrounder, who is a trump card in any team she features in. For the Capitals themselves, Kapp has often been the difference between victory and defeat, starring with bat and ball in crucial games.

She has been a big factor in the Delhi-based franchise making the final in every edition of the WPL so far.

Kapp’s South Africa lost to India in the final of the Women’s ODI World Cup. With another World Cup, the T20 one this time, coming up in a few months, the WPL offers the Proteas veteran and all others participating some valuable game time and an opportunity to assess opponents.

Kapp will be sharing a dressing room with the likes of longtime teammate Shafali Verma, who dismissed her in the final.

“She’s always been a special talent,” Kapp said of the 21-year-old fondly. “She’s going to have a very long and successful career. I feel like just the level of confidence and that self-belief that she walks around with… (is unmatched).

“Coming into the DC camp in Goa, we had a practice match on day one, and she smashed the ball all over. That’s what is special about her. She’s an attacking batter, and she won’t change that about herself.

The confidence players like that bring rubs off on the team.”

Kapp admits that she has benefited from that self-belief over the course of her stint in the WPL, particularly as a batter.

“(The WPL has helped with) probably the aggressive nature within my batting. (Given) my role and where I come in, I don’t always necessarily get as much time to bat. So I have to make every ball count. I feel like that’s definitely an area of my game where I’ve improved and where the WPL has been so special to me.

“India is not easy for a bowler. You are put under so much pressure because batters come after you. You have to accept that you’re probably going to go for a few runs. It’s about developing grit to just stay in the fight.”

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As a seamer, Kapp hailed the WPL for providing a platform to nurture pace bowling talent from around the world.

“Your spinners are important, but the last three seasons have shown you that your pace bowlers actually win you cricket matches. They bowl in the PowerPlay and the death: two of the most challenging times. Leagues like this develop you as a cricketer and a person.”

Ahead of the T20 showpiece, Kapp hailed WPL and similar franchise leagues for the role they play in polishing talent for the big stage.

“People don’t always understand how important these leagues are for women’s cricket. Look at the WPL. You saw how India went and won its first World Cup. The impact is there to see. My own game would never have grown the way it has if not for leagues.”

Published on Jan 05, 2026